Require NYPD Security Plan for Religious Worship Sites
Enacted on May 27, 2026Signed into law by the Mayor.
Signed into Law
Local Law 2026/082
✦ Plain-Language Summary
This law requires the Police Commissioner to create a plan for protecting people entering and leaving religious buildings from physical obstruction or intimidation. The plan must balance protecting worshippers with preserving people's rights to free speech and peaceful protest. The plan will be shared with the Mayor, City Council, and posted online for the public to see.
Details
- Introduced
- Jan 29, 2026
- Passed Council
- Apr 25, 2026
- Enacted
- Apr 25, 2026
- Body
- Committee to Combat Hate
- Type
- Introduction
- Status
- Enacted
Sponsors (35)
Official Description
This bill would require the Police Commissioner to establish a plan to address and contain the risk of physical obstruction, physical injury, intimidation, and interference at places of religious worship while preserving and protecting the rights to free speech, assembly, and protest. The plan would include considerations for the New York Police Department (NYPD) to use in determining whether, when, and the extent to which security perimeters may be used to protect entry to and egress from places of religious worship, and for communication with stakeholders, including the public, persons seeking to assemble or protest, and affected religious leaders. The Commissioner would be required to submit a proposed plan and a final plan to the Mayor and Speaker of the Council no later than 45 days and 90 days, respectively, after the bill’s effective date. The final plan would also be posted on NYPD’s website.